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SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Softball team battled late into Sunday’s finale against 17th-ranked Stanford at Melissa Cook Stadium, but ultimately fell short 7-13. The Irish are now 13-19 this season and 2-7 in conference play.
Rebecca Eckart smacked her first career home run in the second inning, a shot off the scoreboard in left center. Eckart is the ninth player to homer this season for Notre Dame and the fourth player this season to hit their first career tank in 2025. Addison Amaral also homered for the Irish, hitting a solo shot to left to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Amaral finished the day 3/4 with a double, the home run, two runs scored and two driven in. The sophomore shortstop is now hitting .382 on the season and a team-best seven doubles, four home runs and 26 RBI.
Sydny Poeck continues to progress as a hitter in her sophomore season. She has now reached base in 12-straight games after notching two hits and a walk today. She is batting .324 on the season with 15 walks, both second on the team behind Amaral.
Notre Dame scored twice in the first inning, courtesy of that RBI double Addison Amaral to right center that scored Poeck after she walked to lead off the first. Two batters later, Jane Kronenberger ripped a base hit into center field to score Amaral and put the Irish up 2-0 after the opening frame.
Rebecca Eckart hit her first career homer in the bottom of the second, a rocket out to left center field that hit off the scoreboard and gave the Irish a 3-2 lead at the time.
Down 12-3 in the sixth, the Irish continued to battle. After Amaral led off the inning with a home run, Kaia Cortes got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that scored a run. Poeck followed right after her with a two-run double to left that scored Eckart and pinch runner Avery Houlihan to put a four-spot on the board and keep Notre Dame in striking distance against a nationally ranked team.
The Irish will look to regroup Tuesday night when they host the UIC Flames at 5:00 p.m. at Melissa Cook Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra and admission to all Notre Dame softball games is free.